Mobile elevating loader



J. H. WlLMOTH ETAL 3,224,120

MOBILE ELEVATING LOADER S Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN HOWARD W/L MOTH HARRY L.W/l. MOTH INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Dec. 21, 1965 Filed April 29, 1963 on m mhw P :/%w L GK 1 in wk 4 H 1965 J. H. WILMOTH ETAL 3,224,120

MOBILE ELEVATING LOADER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1963 omx Q-EJOH/V HOWARD W/LMQTH HARRY L. W/LMOTH INV'NmRS United States PatentQfiice amaze Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,120 MOBILE ELEVATING LOADERJohn Howard Wilmoth, 5756 N. Flora, and Harry L. Wiimoth, 6289 N. 1st,both of Fresno, Calif. Filed Apr. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 276,255 8 Claims.(Cl. 37-9) The present invention relates to a mobile elevating loaderwhich readily incorporates as a source of motive power a tractor ofcontemporary or any other suitable design, either track-type or wheeled.The invention more particularly relates to an earth excavating loaderemploying an earth elevating reel in cooperating relation withpreviously known earth scraping blades, such as a conventionalbulldozer.

Previously known earthworking equipment includes a variety ofspecialized forms, each having utility to perform a particular function.Many of such specialized forms incorporate a prime mover which hasutility only to propel such equipment. Since the cost of contemporaryprime movers, such as track-type and wheeled tractors, is quite high, itis desirous to provide equipment which further enhances their utility.

Included in such specialized forms are tractors equipped with bulldozerblades, bucket-type loaders, normally capable of dumping only in aforward direction, and earth excavating and transporting scrapers of theopen-bowl and apron design. While each of these specialized forms isefiicient for a single purpose, all of them require great amounts ofpower during the loading and elevating cycle, and certain of the formsare incapable of elevating earth from an excavation zone due to theirlimited performance characteristics.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anelevating loader which is adapted to incorporate contemporary vehicles,such as track-type or wheeled tractors.

Another object is to provide an elevating loader of improved efiiciencyand having a wide range of utility.

Another object is to provide an earth excavating loader of the elevatingtype which is capable of operation in a variety of excavatingenvironments.

A further object is to provide an earth elevating loader ofwell-balanced design and having components thereof arranged insubstantial bilateral symmetry.

A still further object is to provide an earth elevating loader whichreduces the net unit cost of excavating and elevating earth.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent uponreference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an elevating loader embodying theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the elevating loader of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation, partly insection taken in a plane represented by the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of that portion of the loaderillustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section taken on line 55 of FIG.3.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, a mobile vehicle is indicated atand illustrated in the form of a conventional track-type tractor as asource of motive power for the elevating loader of the presentinvention. The tractor 10 includes a prime mover, such as an internalcombustion engine, indicated at 11. The engine is arranged to drive anhydraulic pump 12 incorporated in hydraulic power control systemsprovided on contemporary tractors. The pump 12 is illustrated as aspecific form of power means incorporated in the present invention forthe purpose of actuating hydraulic motors subsequently to be described.The term hydraulic motors, as subsequently employed herein, isunderstood to include both rotary and reciprocating devices fortranslating hydraulic into mechanical power. Other suitable forms ofpower means, such as electrical or mechanical, will readily occur tothose skilled in the art.

The tractor includes a pair of laterally opposed ground engagingtraction members in the form of articulated tracks 15. The tracks areindependently driven by the engine 11 through suitable powertransmission means, not shown. Each track is arranged for movementrelative to a respective track frame 16 rigidly secured to the tractorand forming a part thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. To facilitate suchmovement, an idler wheel 17 is rotatably mounted in the track frame withthe track 15 trained therearound. A plurality of longitudinally spacedlower track rollers 18 are individually rigidly secured to a respectiveone of the track frames 16, as by capscrews. To provide support for theupper run of the track 15, a plurality of longitudinally spaced uppertrack carrier rollers 19 are similarly secured to the track frame 16. Asis Wellknown in such track-type vehicles, each of the tracks 15 isindividually powered to permit steering of the vehicle by appropriateinterruption of the power to one of the tracks and/ or braking orreversing of the track subjected to such power interruption.

A pair of laterally opposed trunnions are individually secured to arespective one of the track frames 16 and provide a horizontaltransverse pivotal axis for a pair of laterally opposed push arms 26.The arms are pivotally connected at their proximal ends to a respectiveone of the trunnions and support at their distal ends a bulldozer blade27. The blade 27 is extended transversely of the vehicle 10 and providedwith an earth engaging face curved at a predetermined radius andgenerated in a longitudinal vertical plane relative to the vehicle.Opposite ends of the blade are pivotally connected to a respective oneof the push arms 26 by a pair of pivot pins 28, thereby adapting theblade for pivotal movement about a transverse horizontal axis. As can beseen in FIG. 4, each end of the blade is provided with a laterallyextended wing 29, which facilitates recovery and elevation of earthpreviously deposited in a windrow. A transversely extended cutting blade30 is rigidly secured to the blade at its lower portion. The blade 30scrapes the earth at a selected depth during traversing movement of thevehicle, thereby excavating earth in an excavating zone, generallyindicated at 31. As can be seen in FIG. 3, each end of the blade carriesa stop block 32 to facilitate elevation of cooperating earth elevatingapparatus subsequently to be described.

A hydraulically actuated lift ram 35 is disposed at each end of thebulldozer blade 27 and is pivotally connected to a respective one of thepush arms 26, as by a pin 36. The opposite end of each ram 35 isconnected to the vehicle 10 by a similar pin 37. Each of the rams 35 isprovided with a pair of hoses 38, which alternately serve as supply andreturn lines upon appropriate positioning of control valves associatedwith the pump 12. It is believed evident that appropriate extension andretraction of the rams 35 effects selective elevational positioning ofthe blade 27 and the cutting edge 30.

To effect tipping of the blade 27 about the horizontal transverse axisafforded by the pivot pins 28, each end of the blade is also providedwith a combined tipping and tilting ram 40. Each of the rams ispivotally connected to the blade at a point above a respective one ofthe pins 28 as by the pivotal connection indicated at 41. The oppositeend of each of the rams 40 is likewise pivotally connected to arespective one of the push arms 26 by a pin 42. Hydraulic hoses 43 areconnected by means not shown tothe pump 12 and alternately serve assupply and return lines under the influence of a suitable control valve.It is to be understood that the control valve for the rams 40 is capableof both independent extension and retraction of each of the rams, aswell as simultaneous operation thereof. It will be observed thatsimultaneous extension of the rams 40 effects a tipping of the blade 27about the axis afforded by the pins 28. Extension and/ or retraction ofonly one of the rams 40 effects a tilting of the blade in a transverseplane about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The same resultedtipping can be effected by appropriate differential rates of extensionand/or retraction of the combined tipping and tilting rams 40.

A pair of laterally opposed forwardly projecting arch arms 58 are eachindividually pivotally connected to a respective one of the trunnions 25by a stabilizing link 51. One end of each stabilizing link is connectedby a .pivot pin to a respective one of the arch arms 50 and the oppositeend of the link is connected to one of the trunnions 25. Each of thearms 50 is provided with a lower branch arm 55 extended forwardlysubstantially coextensively with the distal end of the arm 50. In asimilar manner, an upper arch arm 56 is forwardly upwardly extended fromeach of the arms 50.

As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of transverselyspaced annular bearing rings 57 are each individually rigidly secured toa respective one of the upper arch arms 56. Each of the rings 57supports a large diameter bearing 58 and thereby provides an axis ofrotation for an annular reel 59. It is to be noted that the axis ofrotation afforded by the bearings 58 is substantially horizontal andnormal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The reel is generatedabout the axis of rotation at a radius slightly smaller than thepredetermined radius for the blade 27. Such relative dimensions permitsrelative elevational movement of the blade without interfering with reelrotation during ground traversal.

A shield 60 is disposed internally of the reel 59 and provides anannular peripheral wall 61 extended throughout a predetermined are aboutthe axis of rotation of the reel. The wall 61 terminates in oppositeends 62 angularly related to each other in a converging manner therebyforming a discharge chute at an elevated position relative to theexcavating zone 31. The peripheral wall 61 is rigidly secured to a pairof axially spaced annular end walls 63, which in turn are individuallybolted to a respective one of the bearing rings 57. Accordingly, theshield 60 is rigidly fixed relative to the axis of rotation for the reel59 afforded by the axially aligned bearings 58.

Referring again to FIG. 3, a hydraulically actuated ram 65 isoperatively associated with each of the arch arms 50 to effect selectiveforward positioning of the reel relative to the blade 27. Each of therams 65 is interconnected between its respective track frame 26 by apivot pin 66 and the pivot pin 52. A pair of hoses 67 permit selectiveextension and retraction of the ram 65 when connected to the pump 12 bymeans, not shown, and supplied with pressure fluid by suitable controlvalves, also not shown.

The reel 59 includes a pair of axially spaced annular end rings 70 eachcarrying an axially extended bearing collar 71. The end rings 70 areinterconnected by a plurality of axially extended, circumferentiallyspaced, radially projecting vanes 72. Rigidity of the annular reel soformed is further enhanced by the provision of axially spaced ribs 73,arcuately interconnecting adjacent vanes. The spaced vanes define earthreceiving cavities in conjunction with the peripheral wall 61 of theshield 60. Since the reel is adapted for selective positioning relativeto the blade 27 and the blade is capable of selective elevationalpositioning, the reel is preferably formed at a radius smaller than theearth contacting face of the blade. The reel is also formed of rigidmaterial, such as heavy gauge steel or the like, so as to providesufficient weight to insure rotation of the reel, when in rolling earthengagement, incident to earth traversing movement of the vehicle 10.

A transverse conveyor is partially received within the reel 59 and isprovided with an upper run 81 and a lower run 82. The upper run 81 ispositioned to receive earth discharged from the chute formed by the ends62 of the shield 68. The conveyor belt is arranged for selective poweroperation in either direction axially of the reel 59 by independentlypowered cylindrical pulleys 83 rotatably supported by the arch arms 58and serving as longitudinal limits for the conveyor 80. A pair of siderails 84 interconnect the distal ends of the arms 51 and are disposedsubstantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel 59. Aplurality of rollers 85 are rotatably supported in the side rails andare spaced longitudinally of the conveyor 80 at sufficient distances toprovide support for the upper run 81. In a similar manner, a lower guideroller 86 is also rotatably mounted in the side rails 84. A pair of belttension rollers 87 are each provided with axially extended mounting pins88 received in vertical slots 89 provided in the side rails 84. Each ofthe rollers 87 engages the underside of the return run 82 of theconveyor belt and is urged into biased contact therewith by means of atension spring 90 anchored by a pin 91.

Independent reversible power is provided for each of the pulleys 83 bysubstantially identical individual mechanism. Accordingly, only one ofsuch mechanisms is here described. A reversible hydraulic motor M isenclosed within a housing and is provided with a pair of hoses 96 and acontrol valve 97, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The motor M is arranged indriving relation to a power transmission 98 also enclosed within thehousing 95. The motor and transmission housing is supported on a bracket99 rigidly laterally extended from a respective one of the upper archarms 56. An output sheave 100 provided on the transmission 98 afifordspower for a drive belt 101 trained thereabout. A drive sheave 102rigidly secured in driving relation to the cylindrical pulley 83receives power from the belt 101. Accordingly, appropriate simultaneousoperation of each of the motors 95 affords alternate discharge ends forthe conveyor 88 and indicated at discharge zones 183 and 104 at oppositeends of the conveyor 80 and at a first elevated level with respect tothe excavating zone 31.

By reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, it can be seen that a pair oflaterally opposed conveyors 118 are provided in the elevating loader ofthe present invention. F or reasons of brevity, only one of suchconveyors is described, since both are substantially identical andprovide bilateral symmetry in the loader. Each of the elevatingconveyors includes a rigid elongated frame 111 mounted for pivotalmovement in a vertical plane. Such movement is permitted by means of apivot pin 112 supported in a pair of spaced lugs 113 laterallyprojecting from the lower branch arm 55. The conveyor 110 includes acontinuous belt affording an upper run 115 and a lower return run 116.The belt is trained about an inner cylindrical pulley 117 mounted forrotation about the axis of pin 112 and an outer cylindrical pulley 118rotatably mounted in the frame 111. As in the other power meansillustrated in this preferred form of the invention, a hydraulicallyactuated motor 120 is supported on the frame 111 and supplied withpressure fluid through hoses 121 to effect appropriate rotation thereofand to cause movement of the upper run of the conveyor belt 115 in adirection indicated by the arrow 122.

A cable 125 is anchored to each of the conveyors 118 at a point adjacentto its respective distal end, as at 126. The cable is selectively playedout and retrieved by a cable winding Winch 127 driven by an hydraulicmotor 128. For purposes of clarity of illustration, pressure fluidsupply hoses and control valves have not been illustrated in conjunctionwith the motor 128. A support arch 129 is rigidly secured to the archarms 56 and provides a foundation for the cable winding winch and thehydraulic motor 128. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 3, each of theconveyors 11a is provided with an independently controlled cable andcable winding winch 127, thereby to effect individual selectiveelevation of the respective discharge ends of each of the conveyors.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subjectinvention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarizedat this point. Assuming that the engine 11 is operating, the vehicle isset in motion along a predetermined path of travel. As in the case ofall track-type tractors, such path of travel is normally aligned withthe longitudinal axis of the vehicle, except when power is interruptedto one of the track mechanisms 15 during maneuvering of the vehicle. Theblade 27 is lowered into earth engagement at a selected depth so thatthe cutting edge 30 excavates earth from the excavating zone 3i. Thedepth of the cutting edge 30 is selectively controlled by appropriateextension and retraction of the hydraulic lift rams 35.

The reel 59, due to its weight, is gravitationally biased intoengagement with the earth. Accordingly, forward movement of the vehicleeffects rotation of the reel about the axis afforded by the bearings 58.As viewed in FIG. 3, such reel rotation incident to earth traversingmovement of the vehicle from right to left, as viewed, is in acounterclockwise direction. During such rotation, earth excavated in thezone 31 by the cutting edge 30 is urged into contact with the face ofthe blade 27. The reel is positioned longitudinally of the vehicle incoacting proximity to the blade by appropriate extension or retractionof the hydraulic rams 65. The position of the reel 59 relative to theblade 27 is adjustably selected to accommodate the particular type ofearth being excavated. For example, in excavating heavy coherent soils,such as clay, the reel is necessarily positioned at a distance greaterthan that when excavating loose, sandy types of soil. In excavating thelatter type, the reel must be in close proximity to the earth contactingface of the blade 27 to prevent escape of the excavated earth from theearth receiving cavities formed by the circumferentially spaced vanes 72in conjunction with the shield 69. Accordingly, earth excavated in thezone 31 is elevated by the individual vanes of the reel in cooperationwith the blade 27 and subsequently discharged through the chute formedby the ends 62 of the peripheral wall at.

The earth so elevated by the reel and discharged therefrom is depositedupon the upper run 81 of the conveyor 80. Assuming that the conveyor isbeing powered for movement in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG.5, earth deposited upon the conveyor 80 is discharged at the zoneindicated at 103. If it were not for the presence of the elevatingconveyor 110 disposed below the discharge zone 1G3, earth dischargedfrom the conveyor 80 would be deposited in a windrow at the side of themachine. However, the elevating conveyor 110 is provided in the loaderof the present invention to permit loading of excavated earth into aconveying vehicle moving at a rate substantially synchronized with thevehicle ltl. The earth is discharged from the elevating conveyor 116 ata discharge zone indicated at 135 and as shown in FIG. 2, and receivedin a conveying vehicle, such as a truck fragmentarily illustrated at136.

If earth is to be recovered from a windrow formation, the laterallyextended wings 29 of the bulldozer blade 27 are appropriately suited tosuch an environment. As in the case of excavating with the blade, thedepth of the cutting edge 30 is selectively controlled by means of thehydraulic rams 35.

Under certain operating conditions, the blade 27 is advantageouslytipped about the transverse horizontal axis afforded by the pins 28, thedegree of tipping being selected to fit soil conditions and the thencurrent characteristics of wear of the cutting edge 30. Appropriateextension or retraction of the combined tipping and tilting rams 40readily effects such tipping of the blade 27.

To meet certain environment requirements, it is frequently desirable totilt the blade 27 about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 10 in atransverse plane of reference. For example, such tilting is required tolower one end of the cutting edge 30 at a depth greater than theopposite end. To effect such tilting one of the hydraulic rams 40 isextended while the other is retracted, thus causing an unequal effectivelength for each of the rams 49. Consequently, the blade 27 is tiltedabout the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and lowers one end of thecutting edge 30 at a depth below the opposite end. Since the arch arms50 which mount the elevating reel on the vehicle 10 are also connectedto a respective one of the push arms 26 through its associated hydraulicram 65, the axis of rotation of the reel 59 is urged toward a positionsubstantially parallel to the cutting edge 30. At the same time,however, the flexibility of the supporting frame for the reel providedby the arch arms 50 pivotally connected to the stabilizing links 51 bythe pins 52 and to the push arms 26 by means of the rams 65, permits thereel 59 to follow the general contour of the surface of the earth beingexcavated along the path of travel of the vehicle.

During maneuvering of the vehicle 10, as by interruption to one of thetracks 15, controlled steering of the forwardly projecting reel isaccomplished by extension of the ram 65 on that side of the vehicletoward which the turn is being made while simultaneously retracting theram 65 on the side of the vehicle away from which the turn is beingmade. Accordingly, the axis of rotation of the reel, which issubstantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle whiletraversing a straight path of travel, is disposed obliquely to thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle. Such selective variation of theangular relationship between the axis of rotation and the Iongitudinalaxis of the vehicle permits continued loading of excavated earth duringmaneuvering of the vehicle 10 from a straight path of travel. Also, itshould be noted that such loading during turning maneuvers isaccomplished without skewing of the vanes relative to the surface of theearth. Since the reel 59 is rotated by reason of its frictionalengagement with the earth, this prevention of skewing of the vanespermits a high degree of operating efficiency.

Should it be desired to lift the reel 59 out of engagement with theearth, raising of the bulldozer blade 27 by actuation of the lift rams35 will accomplish reel elevation, upon exceeding a predetermined rangeof movement. The range of movement is determined by the vertical spacingbetween the stop blocks 32 and the lower branch arms 55. Accordingly,short radius, pivot-type turns of the loader are readily permitted byraising the reel merely by elevating the bulldozer blade 27 beyond theaforesaid predetermined range of movement.

The efficiency of the loader of the present invention is furtherenhanced by reason of the elevation of excavated earth in successivequantities determined by the earth receiving cavities formed by the reelvanes 72 in conjunction with the shield 60. Since the earth beingelevated need not overcome the resistance of excavated earth alreadydeposited in a receiving vessel, such as the carrying bowl of aconventional earth scraper of the bowl and apron type, the full tractivepower of the vehicle 16 can be exerted in propelling the loader,excavating the earth in the zone 31, and elevating it to a level abovesuch zone.

When the vehicle 10 resumes a straight path of travel, the hydraulicrams 65 are appropriately extended and/ or retracted so that the axis ofrotation of the reel 59 is substantially normal to the axis of thevehicle. Further ver satility of the loader of the invention isillustrated by reason of the reversible power means provided for theconveyor 8th which permits discharge at either side of the vehicle ofthe earth excavated by the blade 27 and elevated by the reel 59. In theevent that either of the elevating conveyors 110 projects at a lateraldistance greater than that permitted by obstruct-ions present in theoperating environment, the conveyor can be retracted laterally byappropriate retrieval of the cable 125. The winch 127 actuated by thehydraulic motor 128 is utilized in such cable retrieving and consequentelevation of the distal end of the conveyor 110. Normally, bothconveyors 110 remain mounted on the vehicle to provide bilateralsymmetry and a consequent balancing of the assembled loader.

As a further example of the adaptability of the loader of the presentinvention to contemporary vehicles, it is to be noted that the reel 59,and conveyors 80 and 114 supported in the arch arms 50, can readily bedetached from the vehicle 10 by appropriate removal of the pivot pins52. This permits full utilization of individual equipment units whichmay necessarily be needed for temporary purposes other than propellingthe loader of the subject invention.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of theinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An elevating loader comprising a mobile vehicle; a support framepivotally mounted on the vehicle; an earth scraping blade mounted on theframe and positioned to engage the earth in an excavating zone; earthelevating means carried by the vehicle in a position adjacent to,forwardly of, and coacting with said blade to receive earth excavatedthereby and to elevate such earth to a level above said excavating zone;power means carried on the vehicle and connected to said earth scrapingblade selectively to elevate the same; separate power means mounted onthe vehicle and connected to said earth elevating means selectively tocontrol the proximity of said earth elevating means relative to saidblade; and conveyor means carried by the vehicle in a position toreceive earth from said elevating means.

2. An elevating loader comprising a mobile vehicle having a longitudinalaxis; an earth scraping blade adapted to engage the earth in anexcavating zone; means mounting the blade on the vehicle and forwardlythereof in angular relation to said axis, including a pair of laterallyopposed push arms; an elongated annular reel; earth elevating meanscircumferentially spaced about the periphery of the reel; means mountingthe reel on the vehicle for ground engagement forwardly of and incoacting proximity to said blade to elevate earth excavated thereby to afirst elevated level, said mounting means including a pair of laterallyopposed forwardly extended arch arms individually pivotally connected attheir proximal ends to a respective one of said push arms and alsoaffording an axis of rotation for the reel which is rotated while inearth engagement incident to earth traversing movement of the vehicle;and transport means carried by the vehicle to receive earth from saidearth elevating means of the reel and to discharge such earth at anoutlet station.

3. The elevating load-er of claim 2 wherein said transport means includeelevating means to raise said received earth to a level above said firstelevating level.

4. An elevating loader compring a mobile vehicle having a longitudinalaxis and adapted to traverse a selective predetermined path of travel,an elongated earth scraping blade adapted to engage the earth in apredetermined excavating zone in relation to the vehicle; a pair oflaterally opposed arms forwardly extended from the vehicle, havingopposite ends and being mounted at their respective proximal ends forpivotal movement in respective vertical planes about a transverse axis;means mounting the blade on the arms forwardly of the vehicle forpivotal movement about a horizontal transverse axis; power meansinterconnecting the blade and said arms to tip said blade about saidhorizontal axis; an elongated annular reel axially extendedsubstantially coextensive with said blade and providing a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced axi ally extended vanes about the periphery ofthe reel; a pair of laterally opposed forwardly extended arch armsindividually disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle and affordingrespective forward distal ends and rearward proximal ends; meansrotatably mounting the reel on said forward distal ends of the arch armsin a position forwardly of and in coacting proximity to said blade toelevate earth excavated by the blade to a first elevated level and todischarge the earth at said level, said mounting means affording an axisof rotation for the reel disposed substantially transversely of saidvehicle axis; a pair of laterally opposed stabilizing links, eachindividually pivotally interconnecting the rearward proximal end of arespective one of said arch arms to a respective one of said vehiclepush arms; a pair of laterally opposed extensible power means, eachpivotally interconnecting a respective one of said push arms and arespective rearward distal end of one of said arch arms for selectiveindividual fore and aft movement of said arch arms whereby said reelaxis of rotation is angularly skewed relative to said vehicle axis; andconveyor means carried by the vehicle in a positron to receive earthdischarged from the reel.

5. An elevating loader comprising a mobile vehicle affording alongitudinal axis and adapted for movement along a selectivepredetermined path of travel; a support frame mounted on the vehicle,earth scraping means secured to the frame forwardly of the vehicle inearth penetrating relation in an excavating zone to cause initialelevational movement of earth from the excavating zone upon movement ofthe vehicle along a path of travel substantially parallel to said axis;first earth elevating means carried by the vehicle having a peripheralsurface in rolling engagement upon the earth in a position forwardly of,substantially transversely coextensive with, and coacting with saidearth scraping means to receive earth initially elevated thereby and toelevate such earth to a level above said excavating zone, said firstelevating means having an axis of reference normally disposedtransversely of said path, said scraping means having a cutting portionat the lower edge thereof lying below the lower peripheral surface ofthe first elevating means; second earth elevating means carried by thevehicle and positioned to receive earth from said first elevating meansand to elevate such received earth toward a discharge zone; and powermeans carried by the vehicle and connected to said first elevating meansto effect in a horizontal plane limited angular movement of said axis ofthe first elevating means relative to the longitudinal axis of saidvehicle.

6. In an elevating loader, a mobile vehicle having a longitudinal axisand adapted for forward movement along a path of travel; an earthscraping blade disposed in earth penetrating relation in an excavatingzone to cause initial elevational movement of earth from the excavatingzone; means mounting the blade on the vehicle forwardly thereof in anangular relation to said axis; an elongated reel; earth elevating meanscircumferentially spaced about the periphery of the reel; means mountingthe reel on the vehicle for rolling engagement upon the earth incidentto earth traversing movement of the vehicle in a position forwardly ofand in coacting proximity to said blade to elevate earth initiallyelevated thereby to a first elevated level above the excavating zone,said scraping blade having a cutting portion lying below the lowerperiphery of the reel, said mounting means affording an axis of rotationfor the reel disposed substantially transversely of said vehicle axis;and power means carried by the vehicle and operatively connected to saidreel mounting means to efiect selective variation of the relative anglebetween said reel axis and said vehicle axis.

7. In an elevating loader, a mobile vehicle having a longitudinal axis;an earth scraping blade having a cutting portion disposed in earthpenetrating relation in an excavating zone to cause initial elevationalmovement of earth from the excavating zone during earth traversingmovement; means mounting the blade on the vehicle in angular relation tosaid axis; an elongated reel having a plurality of earth elevatingmembers circumferentially spaced about the periphery of the reel withthe reel providing a lower peripheral portion; means mounting the reelon the vehicle for rolling engagement of the lower periphery thereofupon the earth incident to earth traversing movement of the vehicle in aposition forwardly of and in coacting proximity to said blade to receiveearth initially elevated thereby and further elevationally to transportsuch earth to a first elevated level above the cutting portion of theblade and to discharge the earth so elevated, said cutting portion beingdisposed below the lower peripheral portion of the reel; means carriedby the vehicle and connected with the reel to eflect selective elevationof said reel relative to said earth scraping blade; and conveyor meanscarried by the vehicle in a position to receive earth discharged fromthe reel.

8. In an elevating loader, a mobile vehicle having a longitudinal axis;an earth scraping blade having a cutting portion disposed in earthpenetrating relation in an excavating zone to cause initial elevationalmovement of earth from the excavating zone; means mounting the blade onthe vehicle in angular relation to said axis; an elongated reel having aplurality of earth elevating members circumferentially spaced about theperiphery of the reel with the reel providing a lower peripheralportion; means mounting the reel on the vehicle for rolling engagementof the lower peripheral portion upon the earth incident to earthtraversing movement in a position forwardly of and in coacting proximityto said blade to receive earth initially elevated thereby and furtherelevationally to transport such earth to a first elevated level abovethe cutting portion of the blade and to discharge the earth so elevated,said cutting portion being disposed below the lower peripheral portionof the reel, said mounting means affording an axis of rotation for thereel disposed substantially transversely of said vehicle axis; powermeans carried by the vehicle and operatively connected to said reelmounting means to effect selective variation of the relative anglebetween said reel axis and said vehicle axis; means carried by thevehicle and connected with the reel to eifect selective elevation ofsaid reel; and conveyor means carried by the vehicle in a position toreceive earth discharged from the reel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 829,882 8/ 1906Mathers 37-97 1,658,398 2/1928 Seaman 37-108 X 2,055,176 9/1936 Lang37-9 2,404,123 7/1946 Clark 37-9 3,059,356 10/1962 Lorang 37-1443,091,873 6/1963 West 37-143 3,106,793 10/1963 Savage 37-143 3,119,1931/1964 Herschberger 37-143 FOREIGN PATENTS 802,227 10/1958 GreatBritain.

553,415 12/1956 Italy.

116,210 12/ 1958 U.S.S.R.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Examiner.

1. AN ELEVATING LOADER COMPRISING A MOBILE VEHICLE; A SUPPORT FRAMEPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE; AN EARTH SCRAPING BLADE MOUNTED ON THEFRAME AND POSITIONED TO ENGAGE THE EARTH IN AN EXCAVATING ZONE; EARTHELEVATING MEANS CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE IN A POSITION ADJACENT TO,FORWARDLY OF, AND COACTING WITH SAID BLADE TO RECEIVE EARTH EXCAVATEDTHEREBY AND TO ELEVATE SUCH EARTH TO A LEVEL ABOVE SAID EXCAVATING ZONE;POWER MEANS CARRIED ON THE VEHICLE AND CONNECTED TO SAID EARTH SCRAPINGBLADE SELECTIVELY TO ELEVATE THE SAME; SEPARATE POWER MEANS MOUNTED ONTHE VEHICLE AND CONNECTED TO SAID EARTH ELEVATING MEANS SELECTIVELY TOCONTROL THE PROXIMITY OF SAID EARTH ELEVATING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAIDBLADE; AND CONVEYOR MEANS CARRIED BY THE VEHICLE IN A POSITION TORECEIVE EARTH FROM SAID ELEVATING MEANS.